Learning the language?
 

Hi everyone, I've just joined and apologize if this is in the wrong place-
My husband and I have long term plans- I'm talking no less than 5 years away- We would love to live in Spain for 5-10 years (or longer if everything works out)-
My question is about learning the language- we holiday in Spain and know a handful of words but I have a feeling we need to be fluent in order to converse with lawyers, doctors, estate agents etc
I have looked into evening classes that would hopefully start at the end of this year-
How have others got on? Do you agree it's essential to be fluent or can you wing it? I feel out of respect for the Spanish I would like to be able to talk to locals in their own language but it is worrying me all the same- I wasn't good at languages at school and generally worried I will never get to grips with Spanish.
Would love to know your thoughts and thanks for reading
Claire
:)

Re: Learning the language?
 

Hola

Try many methods - the reason that there are many methods is that everyone is different. I used a "Linguaphone" type course until I arrived here and then took formal grammar lessons.

Whilst it suited me - definitely not everyone´s cup of tea

Davexf

Re: Learning the language?
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Learning the language?
 

Thank you so much :)

Re: Learning the language?
 

I expect the vast majority of people who move to Spain have pretty poor Spanish to begin with, and many of those who stay in predominantly expat areas never get anywhere near fluency. So it is not essential. However you'll find the experience much more fulfilling if you do take an interest in the language, and a good way of progressing is doing intensive courses ta Spanish language schools. Most courses run for a week or more and you spend the morning in the classroom, and have the rest of the day to yourself. It's an excellent way of learning about the local culture as well.

Re: Learning the language?
 

I love that idea- I could meet others!
I've just been checking out the Michel Thomas method as a couple of friends had recommended on Facebook- if I do that, along with night classes then a week intensive would be good- a few weeks probably.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Hi there,

I too will be making the effort to speak Spanish. Having lived in one non-English speaking country (The Netherlands) and not bothering with the language i noticed the difference when i made the effort. The locals appreciate that you have tried.

You don't need to be fluent straight away, so don't feel pressured. Take it as it comes with what ever method you decide, after a while you will get more confident. The best thing for me excluding meeting locals was watching UK/USA TV with Dutch subtitles.

Good luck.

Re: Learning the language?
 

it's really down to:-

Do you want to and will you put the effort in??

:)

Re: Learning the language?
 

No if's no butt's do it.
I never wanted to in Spain or Portugal ... I was only passsing trade.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Agree, many start, only to give up after a short while. Traditionally, evening classes used to start Sept/Oct time, and the drop out rate after the first term was always high. I think just about every potential expat that comes here say that they want to learn the lingo, but IMHO very few do, at least not getting past ordering a beer etc. You need to want to do it and be prepared to put a lot of hours into it, it isn't easy.

Re: Learning the language?
 

A few months of intensive courses would be more realistic

The trouble a lot of British people have is they underestimate how much work is needed to become fluent in a language. It requires a big commitment, but is extremely rewarding

Re: Learning the language?
 

I'm definitely prepared to put the effort in :)
It's good for my brain and will be handy on holiday to be able to do more than just hello, please and thank you- although they count for a lot!

Re: Learning the language?
 

When I started with Spanish (13 years ago) I tried evening classes but got nowhere. The main problem was that the class went at different speeds and the teacher had to keep covering the same material again and again because some people either forgot it or, more commonly, some people had missed the class the first time round. After a few weeks I did a 2 week intensive course in Granada and that allowed me to step up to a more advanced evening class group when I returned. If I had carried on with evening classes then that would have been a good tactic I think - using intensive courses to keep stepping up a level and then changing to a more advanced group when you get back. If you stick to your original beginners group you'll get nowehere.

As c-man says - don't underestimate what learning a language is about. It's not a case of simply understanding how the language works and what the words mean, and then applying it all. To become fluent you need to engage with the language and culture in a more direct way, and that's difficult and frustrating. You put a lot of effort in and you feel like you are getting nowhere. It takes years, and even then you have to accept that you'll never speak it as naturally as you speak your mother tongue. So make sure you enjoy the experience of learning rather than seeing it as a means to an end, because you'll never get to the end.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Friends of ours moved out quite a few years ago now, initially only the wife spoke any Spanish, now the three of them all speak very good Spanish, the son, perfect. It's great to see that they have totally embraced the whole Spanish thing, and without doubt, the biggest factor is having surrounded themselves with Spanish rather than Brits. ;)

Re: Learning the language?
 

Good post, I'm sure we've all been through the "I'm not getting anywhere with this" and the temptation is to give up. And many do, but despite what the adverts will tell you(Speak Spanish in a month!) it's not easy. Evening classes help, but you can only go as fast as the slowest person, and like you say, the students often have different levels and different attitudes to learning. Once you get to a reasonable level, I'm a big fan of skype, find yourself a skype buddy and get chatting, it's free.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Thanks, yes I'd rather remain positive than think I won't be able to do it- reach for the moon and end up in the stars and all that jazz! If I don't ever speak fluent at least I will have tried and had fun along the way :)

Re: Learning the language?
 

As above you need a friend who wants to learn or improve their English and you need to get out into Spain too, I met a guy we have a few common interests and he comes to Quesada to better his English and I go to suburb of Alicante to better my Spanish, its working because you will never learn Spanish in Quesada (unless you spend all day in the post office) as you would never learn in UK no matter what anyone say, based on my own experience, I am not saying you cant but its difficult with out the people, the culture and that sort of stuff.

The first thing is to get the present tense right because you can use that and you will always be understood, just like being in a Chinese restaurant when they talk to you, they miss a few words but you understand and you can hold a conversation, then if you want to progress you can refine it.

If you can do that you will already be ahead because in most situations its so unexpected that you can speekaaderlingo

Re: Learning the language?
 

I agree with you, it's certainly easier to learn in say Spain than UK, but it's doable in UK. Spanish seem to be everywhere in UK, especially in the cities, even in my little corner I have a Spanish neighbour and teacher, a Spanish deli/restaurant etc, so you can normally find a Spanish teacher. Our teacher for example, never speaks English in our meetings, everything is in Spanish, so it's not important where the class is being held. And I always mention skype, but again it doesn't matter where you are in the world, I often speak for a hour or more with a Spanish guy, sometime two, I also did a series of online classes/chats with a school in Guatemala, cheap as chips and works well. So yes, it's certainly harder, but if the will is there, it'll happen. ;)

Re: Learning the language?
 

My best friend is half Spanish- she is fluent, obviously- all her relatives live in Spain except mum and dad who are in Scotland now- I'm sure she will help me.

Re: Learning the language?
 

I agree too, what works for me is a bit of everything, for me I used internet as well as I take in what I read, verb conjutations etc, but if someone tries to explain that, unless they drum it into me it goes in one ear and out the other.

I can read and write well, very well, but listening is difficult, Some comes naturally but most times I have to repeat back or think, for other people its different they can do the listening perfect but cant read.

Re: Learning the language?
 

If you can get a few hours 1 to 1 conversational classes with a native teacher each week you'll progress more in a month than in a year of evening classes.

Re: Learning the language?
 

We are now back in the UK but for years in France. Exposure to the language on a daily basis truly helped and you must 'want' to learn the language. As someone said in certain areas of Spain and because of the ex-pat numbers you can get by with minimum usage of the language. Your experience is richer if you do at least have some knowledge of the language.

So French is now fine for us and it had to be in a village where only three people spoke English.

Now in the UK and weekly lessons with a South American Spanish speaking lecturer. First class but pronunciation different to mainland Spain.
There are similarities with the French language for the root is I am informed Latin and which I did not take in school. School how long ago was that?

Re: Learning the language?
 

Bit like me, if someone is speaking to me, I'm fine, but for some reason, watching a film, TV, my comprehension level drops a lot! Certainly my Achilles heel. Yet I download various podcasts, travel, photography, news, put it on a stick and listen to it in the car, and I'm fine. Weird! :confused: That's another good learning aid I find, podcasts, hundreds about, and all free.

Re: Learning the language?
 

South American Spanish can vary so much, and as you say, can be quite different. I have a Chilean lady friend that used to give us classes, and it's a lovely accent, I really like it, but some of the Argentinian dialects I find very hard to get to grips with. Mind you, a campesino from Andalucia will take some beating!;)

Re: Learning the language?
 

or someone from the Lye in the Black Country or my fellow Welsh guys in North Wales.

whatever wish I was back in Spain just come back from the two hour lesson people saying I am on the flight to Alicante for Easter etc. Bit dreary here. Is Easter semana santa in Spanish?

Re: Learning the language?
 

Samana Santa started last night with the procession of a saint, this continues until Easter weekend. Easter is called Pasqua.

Rosemary

Re: Learning the language?
 

In French paques

Re: Learning the language?
 

Almost - pascua :)

Re: Learning the language?
 

Remember Rosemary is in Valencia.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Sure I was talking about Castellano

I have no idea what it is in Catalan, Valenciano, Gallego, Asturiano or Basque :)

Re: Learning the language?
 

Sorry, yes I had just been reading the leaflet from the church so ended up in Valenciano.

Rosemary

Re: Learning the language?
 

I started with the Open University. The first course (I think they do 3) involved 6 books with accompanying audio (CD at the time) and a weekly class on-line. The OU had its own conferencing software. You’re assigned to a class and meet weekly to do exercises to build conversational skills.

The method suited me because at the time I never knew where I would be the following week. My job involved a lot of travel and I remember doing classes from hotel rooms in the USA while away. The local college was not an option for me.

The materials are high quality and have been refined through many years of use. The fact that you know you are going to be in a conversation using certain words and phrases means you make the time to prepare. When I started I didn’t want the certificates, diplomas, etc. or the points (towards a degree) that came with them, but later they served as an extra incentive.

I approached language learning thinking it was an impossible task, partly because I took from school the view that I was simply not good at languages, and also because it just seems so difficult when you listen to sounds you can’t make. The CD would say, “now respond”, and my brain was still deciphering something said a minute ago!

The great thing about that first course was that within about 8 weeks I knew I was making progress and could do it.

I’d recommend the OU course without hesitation. Whether it would be appropriate or the best option for you depends on your circumstances. It was perfect for me, because I couldn’t attend classes regularly any other way.

On the downside, it is expensive.

Re: Learning the language?
 

And the sounds are difficult.... I still can't say "dog", I always say "but".

Re: Learning the language?
 

It's pascua.

Re: Learning the language?
 

A tip I have as mentioned above is to maintain a language is you must surround yourself with atleast one speaker of that language. My father who teaches several languages has said this time and again. I speak a bit of German as I have some German family but it gets harder when I have no one to speak the language to as its easily forgettable. Same with each language.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Really ? And you reccomend a OU course!!!

That's where the living here helps, it did not take me more than an hour to distinguish between them, for Perro you should roll the r's if you can't then you stress on them.

Just keep repeating the perros with the stress for a few minutes and you will drum it into your head, you have Pero already

Re: Learning the language?
 

Yes, really, Andy. I'm not going to dismiss an excellent course that I made a huge amount of progress with just because I'll never get as good as a native speaker at that one sound.

I do stress them because I can't roll them, but that's just not as good as that rolling sound, hence my comment.

It took me more than an hour, so congratulations with that.

I did try repeating things, learning the language involved quite a lot of that.

Did you have any advice for the OP given your experience of learning?

Re: Learning the language?
 

My advice is to the OP and the other learners is to go with the flow.

Of course try to do it 'correctly' but don't stress out if the 'RR' Sounds the same a 'R'.

The context and the situation will give the listener all the clues they need to know which word you mean.

I knew a French guy he worked as a waiter in weddings, he used to tell the ladies 'you 'ave a beautiful 'at.

Everyone knew what he was talking about, even with his lack of 'H'.

A friends hubby has taken up the piano at the age of 45, as she said, he will never become another Richard Clayderberg. I understood what she meant perfectly.:D

Re: Learning the language?
 

An Open University course nowadays with very high tuition fees can cost £10,000s

Re: Learning the language?
 

I did the level 2 OU course a few years ago - I found it quite useful in that some of the technicalities were explained from an English speaker's point of view (up until then I had mainly been taught in Spanish) and it also included a week in Santiago, which was fun as well. As ever with OU courses, I only really had the time to do enough to do the assignments and would have got a lot more out of it if I had had more time. As those courses are expensive, I would recommend just doing the level 2 course once you have already got to an intermediate level, because it's the only one that offers the residencial school.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergr...ourse/l204.htm

(it costs £2632.00 now though - it was a lot cheaper when I did it)